St. Catherine’s Village’s Charlene Cotton Named June 2022 Franciscan Service Award Recipient

Top photo: pictured from left to right: Lisa Wilburn, Charlene Cotten, Barbara Dorr and Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth

Charlene is the first FSA recipient from St. Catherine’s Village

(Madison, Mississippi)—Charlene Cotten is known for being the face of St. Catherine’s Village. As an Administrative Assistant, Charlene feels her job is a calling from God and always works diligently to meet the needs of residents at the Village.

“Charlene knows everyone’s name,” said St. Catherine’s Village resident Barbara Dorr, who nominated Charlene for the Franciscan Service Award. “She has worked at St. Catherine’s for many years, and residents and families seek her out specifically to share concerns and come up with solutions. She dearly loves the residents and goes to great lengths for them.”

Co-worker Sherry Milner said Charlene is very protective of the residents and treats them all as members of her own family. “I have seen her protect the dignity of residents by wrapping deliveries of healthcare items so that others wouldn’t know what they were carrying to their apartments,” she said. “I’ve seen her assist them with mail and packages to be sure they were able to transport them safely. She is quick to listen and offers encouragement to both residents, caregivers and other team members. She often prays for those around her and calls to follow up to be sure they are doing well.”

Thank you, Charlene, for the calming comfort and care you provide for the many residents at St. Catherine’s Village!

Information about the award:

Franciscan Service Award

The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady follow in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, a gentle saint who left a life of riches to preach the Gospel and serve the sick and needy.

In 1911, six Sisters journeyed to Louisiana from France to begin a healthcare ministry in the United States. Today, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady continue to serve the people of Louisiana and Mississippi  through the facilities and team members of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System.

Since the 12th century, the history of the Sisters is a story of faithfulness to following God’s call to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ no matter where their  call led.

It is within this context of the living tradition of St. Francis that the Franciscan Service Award (FSA) has been established. This award  is designed to recognize employees whose exceptional service to patients, family members, coworkers and community goes above and beyond the call of duty. This prestigious award gives employees a chance to recognize the outstanding performance and dedication of a coworker.

The FSA is the highest award a FMOLHS team member can receive. Selection is based on how well the team member who is nominated lives up to our Mission and Core Values – Service, Reverance and Love for all of Life, Justice, Humility and Joyfulness of Spirit.

Through a defined procedure, team members who have demonstrated the highest commitment to living our Mission will be eligible to be considered for the Franciscan Service Award. Eligibility is dependent on the team member routinely exemplifying the FMOLHS Core Values and Behaviors as recognized by peers through a ministry-wide nomination process.

As Madison’s preeminent all-inclusive Life Plan Community, St. Catherine’s Village provides the right care at the right time for those in their retirement years. To learn more about St. Catherine’s Village, log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com or call (601) 856-0123 to schedule a tour. Follow St. Catherine’s Village on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StCatherinesVillage/.